Mining machine



March 21, 1933. F, w, VODOZ 1,902,148

MINING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 5, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l im/Mwg/a W/WMarch 21, 1933. w vogoz 1,902,148

- MINING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 5, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented iMar. 21, 1933 UNETED STATES PATENT FREDERICK W. VODOZ, OF WILMETTE,ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR To GOODMAN oF -IcE.

' IN G COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF 'IIJLIIJ'OISMINING MACHINE Application filed November 5, 1927, Serial No. 231,213.Renewed October 21, 1931;

This invention relates to improvements in mining machines and moreparticularly to machines of the truck mounted type having a projectingkerf cutting element adjustable in varying positions relative to themain frame for making various vertical orshearing cuts.

More specifically, the-present invention relates to improvementsin atype of mining machine provided with trunnions disposed both forwardlyand rearwardly of the transverse axis of rotation of a cutter barpivotally mounted on said head, and having means for raising andlowering said cutter bar, consisting of a pair of vertically disposedscrew devices mounted forwardly of the foremost trunnion bearings ofthecutter head.

In the present invention I provide an improved form of operativeconnection between the screw devices at the front end of the frame andthe main drive gearing carried on the body of the machine frame wherebygreater simplicity and flexibility of operation is afforded. r

I The invention may be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings wherein: V.

Figure 1 is a vertical section'following gen erally the longitudinalcenter line of the machine and showingthe cutter bar in substantiallyhorizontal position at one side of the frame; s 1

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the front part of the framewithparts broken away to show the operating connections to the raising andlowering devices, forming the principal feature of the presentinvention;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on lineV3'-3 of Figure andFigure 4- is a detailed section taken on line 4% of Figure 2.

The main elements'of the machineinclude a main frame 10 having aforwardly projecting rigid supporting member'26iat its front end. Themachineis moved from :place to place and into angular cutting positionby suitable traction means, herein comprising a pair of continuous treadmechanisms generally indicated at l8, 13 although it is manifest that amachine of this character might also be mounted for movement ontrackguided truck wheels, if desired. A cutter head indicated generally at 20has a cutter bar iw v V gotally mounted thereon which cutter bar maycarry an endless cutter chain about its periphcry in a usual manner andis coaxial with a cutter chain drive shaft 29. A'pair of trunnionbearings are provided for the cutter head 20. One of these hearingscomprises a cylindrical bearing 22 formed near the front of the mainframelO in which a, cylindrical neck 21 is journaled. ,An auxiliarybearing" member 23 is connected toforwardly extending arms 24, 24,forming part of thecutter head 20 and is journaledin a cylindrical out.-

board support or bearing 25 upstandingon the rigid supporting member 26.

The arrangement is such. that the cutter bar 14 and cutter head 20 maybe bodily ro-. tated relative to the main frameon an axisextendinglongitudinally of the latter'from a point at one sideof theframe through an are extending over the top of the frame toacorresponding position at the opposite side of the frame on thebearings22 and 23 forwardly and rearwardly of the axis of the cutterbar14 in a manner which will hereinafter be more clearly described. V i Thecutter bar 14 is pivotallymounted on thecutter head 20 forswinging,movement '84 is journaled on the forward end of the rod 33andhas a pair of oppositely disposed pins 35, 35, forming pivotalconnection with a pair of vertically disposed links 36, 36.-

.80 in aplane parallelto the axis of rotation of j These links areconnected at their upper ends by a tie rod 37 and are pivotally securedat their lower ends on a shaft 38 carried byia cross member generallyindicated at 39 and best shownin Figures 1 and 3 which is not describedin detail but is'only. described in so far as is necessary to illustratemy pres-' ent inventlon.

Power connections are provided for positively swinging the cutter bar onits pivotal axis by means of a pair of screw shafts 40, 40, havingthreaded connection at opposite ends of the cross member 39. These screwmembers have bearing at their upper ends in brackets 41, 41, projectingforwardly from the cylindrical bearing support 25 and their lower endsin the forwardly projecting supporting member 26.

Referring now to the novel features of the present invention, whichrelates to'the driving connections for the screw shafts 40, 40, Iprovide each of the screw shafts with chain sprockets 42, 42, disposedwithin the supporting member 26 and a co-operating drive sprocket 43disposed on vertical shaft 44, having suitable bearings 44 44 in themain frame and preferably disposed rearwardly of the pivotal axis of thecutter bar 14 in the cutter head 20. An endless drive chain 45 istrained about sprockets 42, 42. and the drive sprocket 43, as is bestshown in Figures 1 and 2. An idler tension adjusting sprocket 46 is alsoprovided intermediate the sprockets 42,. 42. This sprocket is preferablymounted on a shaft 46 carried in a longitudinally adjustable support 4'?slidable along guides 48, 48, formed on the under surface of thesupporting member 26, as best shown in detail in Figures 3 and 4.'Longitudinal adjustment of the idler sprocket 46 is afforded through ascrew shaft 49 threaded in enlarged hub portion 49 on the upper end ofshaft 46. By manipulation of the screw shaft 49 the idler sprocket 46may be shifted to adjust the tension of the drive chain 45, as desired.

On account of the relatively restricted shape of the projectingsupporting member 26,'the chain 45-is also trained over idler rollers45*, 45 ,at opposite sides of the frame, as best shown in Figure 2.

Referring now to the power connections for performing the variousoperations of the machine above described, I rovide a motor 50,preferably mounted ad acent the rear of the main frame 10 and having adriving pin on 51 meshed with a gear 52 on a longitudinal shaft 53. Thisshaft is connected for driving the cutter chain through a bevel pinion55 and bevel gear 56, keyed on the shaft 29, A cutter chain sprocket ofan ordinary construction (not shown herein since it is no part of myinvention) is mounted on the outer end of'the shaft 29 to drive thecutter chain (not shown).

The driving connections for rotating the cutter head 20 in its trunnionbearings 22 and 23 include a pinion 57 on the shaft 53 meshing with agear 58 keyed to a sleeve 59 on a shaft 63. The sleeve159 forms a partofa planetary gear reduction device 62 of the type widely used in miningconstruction, details of which need not herein be described. Theplanetary gear reduction device 62 is mounted on and is adapted to drivethe shaft 63 at-aplurality of speeds in a usual manner (not shown),which shaft extends forwardly through abearing support 64 and has abeveled gear 65 at its forward end meshing with a beveled gear 66 on atransverse shaft 67. The beveled gear 66 is loosely mounted on thetransverse shaft 67 and is operatively connected therewith by clutchmeans of an ordinary construction (not shown). A worm 68 is keyed on thetransverse shaft 67 and mesheswith a worm gear 69 secured to andconcentric with the neck 21 of the cutter head 20. The worm 68 and wormgear 69 are of the self-locking type so the cutter head will be lockedfor cutting operations in any position to which it may be rotated.

Reversible driving connections for rotating the elevating screw shafts40 are taken off the shaft 63 through pinions'90 and 91 and a spur gear92. The pinion 91 is driven from thepinion 90 andis meshed with the gear92 which is keyed on a sleeve 93 loosely mounted on a longitudinal shaft94. The sleeve 93 is operatively connected to the shaft 94 by means of asuitable jaw clutch 95 of an ordinary construction. A beveled gear 96 iskeyed on the forward end of the shaft 94 and is meshed with mitre gears97 and 98 loosely mounted on the upright shaft 44 and selectivelyengageable therewith by means of an intermediate reversing clutch member99 so the drive chain 45 may be driven in either direction relative tothe shaft 94 or disconnected therefrom when the clutch member 99 is heldin neutral position, as best shown in Figure 1.

Through the drive 'COIIIIQCtlOHS ust def scribed, the screw shafts 40may be rotated at either high or low speeds controlled by theplanetary-gear reduction device 62 and in reverse directions withoutreversing the motor to raise or'lower the cross member 39' and thuspivotally move the cutter bar 14 about the axis of the shaft 29 forfeeding sald cutter bar vertically in the coal.

Means for driving the traction devlces 13, 13 are also provided hereinconsisting of a beveled pinion 105 keyed on the rearward end of theshaft 94 and meshed with a beveled gear 106 on a transverse shaft 107 atthe rearward end of the machine frame. pinion 108 on the opposite sideof the planetary gear reduction device 62 from the pinion 90 is keyed onthe shaft 63 and drives a spur gear 109 keyed on a sleeve 110 looselymounted on the shaft 94. A suitable clutch member, indicated byreference character 111, is pro vided to selectively connect. the sleeve110 and spur gear 109 to the shaft 94 for driving said shaft. It may beseen that the shaft 94 may be driven in one direction through the pinion108 and spur gear 109, or in an opposite direction through the pinions90 and 91 and the spur gear 92, so the machine may be driven in oppositedirections without reversing the motor and independently of-the screwshafts 40. Suitable driving and control connections are provided betweenthe shaft 107 and'the endless treads 13, 13, details of which need notbe described herein as they form no part of the present invention. 7 v

Although I have shown and-described one form in which my invention maybe embodied, it will be understood that the con struction thereof andthe arrangement of the various parts may be alteredlwithout departingfrom the spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not 'wish to beconstrued as limiting myself to the specific embodiment illustrated,excepting as it may be limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a mining machine, a main frame, a motor, a cutter head mounted forrotation about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said mainframe including a cutting element offset from and mounted for pivotalswinging movement in planes substantially parallel with the axis ofrotation of said cutter head, coacting power means including screwdevices carried, on said main frame in advance of said cutter head forswinging said cutting element, and operative connections between saidmotor and said screw devices including a chain drive for said screwdevices extending rearwardly beneath said cutter head, and a drivesprocket therefor on said main frame.

2. In a mining machine, a main frame, a motor, a cutter head mounted forrotation about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said mainframe including a cutting element offset from and mounted for pivotalswinging movement in planes substantially parallel with the axis ofrotation of said cutter head, coacting power means including screwdevices carried on said main frame in advance of said cutter head forswinging said cutting element, operative connections between said motorand said screw devices including a chain drive for said screw devicesextending rearwardly beneath said cutter head, a drive sprocket thereforon said main frame, and reversible power connections mountedconcentrically with said drive sprocket.

3. In a mining machine, a main frame, a motor, a cutter head mounted forrotation about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said mainframe including a cutting element offset from and mounted for pivotalswinging movement in planes substantially arallel with the axis ofrotation of said outter head, coacting power means including screwdevices carried on said main frame in advance of said cutter head forswinging said main frame in advance'ofsaid cutter head and on oppositesides of the axis of rotationthereof for swinging saidcuttingeIement,ai1d operative connections between said motor and saidscrew devices including a smglecontinuous chain drivefoperativelyconnected with both of said screw devices and extending rearwardlybeneath said cutter head, and a drive sprocket therefor on said mainframe. I

5. In a mining machine, 'a main frame, a mot-or, cutting mechanismtherefor including a sprocket, a cutter arm pivotally mounte'd onsaidframe for pivotal movement about the axis of-said sprocket, meanscarried on said main frame in advance of said sprocket for moving saidcutter arm about its axis of pivotal connection to said frame, andoperative connections between said motor and saidmeans for pivotallymoving said cutter arm including an endless chain drive 'movable in aclosed orbital path andoperatively connectible with said means forpivotally moving said cutter arm, said endless chain extendingrearwardly from said means beneath said cutter arm; V

6. In a mmlngmachine, a Ina1n'frame,a motor," cutting mechanism'therefor ncludits ing asprocket, a cutter arm pivotally mount= ed'onsaid frame for pivotalmovement'about the axis of said sprocket, meanscarried on said main frame in advance of said sprocket for moving saidcutter arm about its axis of pivotal connection to said frame, andoperative connections between saidmotor' and said means for pivotallymoving said cutter arm including a chain'drive for said means extendingrearwardly from said means beneath said cutter arm, a drive sprockettherefor on said main frame, and reversible power con-v nections mountedconcentrically with said drive sprocket. V V .7. In a mining machine,amain'frame, a motor, cutting mechanism therefor including a sprocket, acutter arm pivotally mount-1 ed onsaid frame for pivotal'movement aboutthe axis of said sprocket, coactingf power said main frame in advanceofsaid sprocket for swinging said cutter arm, and operative connectionsbetwen said motor and said screw deviceincluding achain drivefor saidscrew 1:25 meansincluding a scr'ew device carried-on device extendingrearwardly beneath said cutter arm, and a drive sprocket therefor onsaidmain frame;

8. In a mining machine, a main frame, a motor, cutting mechanismtherefor including a sprocket, a cutter arm pivotally mounted on saidframe for pivotal movement about the axis of said sprocket, coactingpower means including a screw device carried-on said main frame inadvance of said sprocket for swinging said cutter arm and operativeconnections between said motor andsaidscrew device including a chaindrive for said screw device extending rearwardly beneath said cutterarm, a drive sprocket therefor on said main frame and reversible powerconnections mounted concentrically with said drive sprocket. i

9. In a mining machine,a main frame, a motor, cutting mechanism thereforincluding a sprocket, a cutter arm pivotally mounted on said frame forpivotal movement about the axis of said sprocket, coacting power meansincluding screw devices carried on said main frame in advance of saidsprocket for swinging said cutter arm and operative connections betweensaid motor and said screw devices including a chain drive for said screwdevices extending rearwardly between 'said cutter arm, and a-drivesprocket therefor on said main frame.

10. In a mining machine, a main frame, a motor, cutting mechanismtherefor including a sprocket, a cutter arm pivotally mounted on saidframe for pivotal movement about the axis of said sprocket, coactingpower means including screw devices carried on said main frame inadvance of said sprocket for swinging said cutter arm, and operativeconnections between said'motor and said screw devices including a chaindrive for said screw devices extending rearwardly beneath said cutterarm, a drive sprocket'therefor on said main frame and reversible powerconnections mounted concentrically with said drive sprocket.

11. In a mining machine, a main frame, a motor, cutting mechanismtherefor including a sprocket, a cutter arm pivotally mounted on saidframe for pivotal movement about the axis of said sprocket, coactingpower means including screw devices carried on said main frame inadvance of said sprocket for swinging said cutter arm, and operativeconnections between said motor and said screw devices including a singlecontinuous chain drive operatively connected with all of said screwdevices and extending rearwardly be neath said cutter arm, and a drivesprocket therefor on said main frame.

12. In a mining machine, a main frame, a

motor, cutting mechanism therefor including a sprocket, a cutter armpivotally mounted on said frame for pivotal movement about the axis ofsaid sprocket, coacting power means including screw devices carried onsaid main frame in advance of'said sprocket for swinging said cutter armand operative connections between said motor and said screw devicesincluding a single continuous chain drive operatively connected with allof said screw devices and extending rearwardly beneath said cutter arm,a drive sprocket therefor onsaid mainframe and reversible powerconnections mounted. concentrically with said drive sprocket.

Signed at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, this26th day of October, A. D. 1927.

' FREDERICK W. VODOZ.

